Northern sThoughtripers bite again, including keepers

Though it's been mostly short stripers providing action for Atlantic Highlands boats lately, Capt. Rob Semkewyc was pleasantly surprised to find bigger bass among the among them this morning. He eventually left his productive area on the N.Y. side in order to seek bonus bass in N.J. waters without success. The Sea Hunter won't be sailing again until Thursday due to the weather forecasts the next two days.

I joined Chuck Many of Annandale on his Ty Man from Gateway Marina in Highlands along with Nellie Greer of Bethlehem, Pa. Many was intent on seeking out big bass, and we spent a lot of time obtaining live bunkers before getting into working birds off the Rockaways.

Many got off to a good start with his first release being a 28 1/2-inch bass on a Tsunami Shad. I then hooked up on my light surfcasting rig and heard my drag singing. After a good battle I released a 31-inch striper on a Castaways Super Teaser -- but the Tsunami Shad was broken off as usually happens when there are two big fish pulling against each other. We released shorts for awhile, but left to try for bigger bass when the tide was right in the Hudson River -- but never found a sign of bass there though the water was still as warm there as in the ocean -- 54 degrees.

Unfortunately, there was no afternoon bite off the Rockaways or any other place Many checked. We ended up with 47 striper releases. I'll have more about this in Friday's column.

Surfcasters did well with small stripers in many areas despite a big swell. Vinny D'Anton of Wall scratched out four "minibass" from his local surf in the morning, but then caught 11 on a lower tide in the afternoon when he could work his Mirr-O-Lure.

Jerry Lasko of Point Pleasant was outfished 19 to 10 in the morning at Lavallette by Maren Tolano of Mantoloking, but he managed to find a 28-incher among the small bass.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look good for tomorrow with a stiff south wind predicted.